some people are here are making it very hard to stick around...

[Malak]

 

[sandorski]

Yup, it does.

 

[destrekor]

Good enough for me.

If some supreme ruler decides I have to spend an eternity in a dimension filled with the more terrifying things in the world (or, at the minimum, in a dimension that is set apart from one of glorious awesomeness that others receive), all because I didn't bow down to his sorry ass, then he is far less than a benevolent being - I'd say such a being is actually the supreme asshole of the universe.
So such a thing created all of us - for what, his amusement? If we have to kneel and accept his position, and we are actually threatened/coerced into doing this or otherwise face certain doom for eternity... I raise the question, are we anything but a cosmic ant-farm?

I challenge any such being who transcends everything that ever existed and thus lives outside of everything that ever existed (hmm, how does that one work again?), can reason and logic that strives to better the populace of this ant-farm result ever result in praise?

Is this so wrong? I find no reason to accept any of this is the worst of anything other than nature, but I also find no fault in others finding reasons to believe otherwise. Spirituality has many bonuses that lend a hand in personal wellbeing, but organizing it disturbs me. Regardless, I'm stubborn and refuse to kneel to anything or anyone. If a creature claiming to be a divine deity appeared before me, I still wouldn't kneel, and further I'd dare to ask some important questions, mainly if any supposed historical accounts are factual - if answered in the affirmative, I'd look the creature in its eyes(?) and call it a self-serving asshole. Yes, I seriously would.

Otherwise, I completely support personal spirituality, and honestly wish I could take part. I try to fill in that gap with a spirituality of species progression, but it's tough turning that into an actual spiritual feeling, and thus doesn't hit the same notes in the brain.

 

[Nebor]

Yup, it does.

I think the difference is that the Atheists fully understand the story of creation, and disregard it. Christians don't understand the weighty science that backs up the big bang theory, so they disregard it as mumbo jumbo. Odds are if someone can tell you how a plasma TV works, they're not a creationist.

 

[Malak]

I think the difference is that the Atheists fully understand the story of creation, and disregard it. Christians don't understand the weighty science that backs up the big bang theory, so they disregard it as mumbo jumbo. Odds are if someone can tell you how a plasma TV works, they're not a creationist.

99% of atheists have zero clue on the science, let alone any of them understanding creation whatsoever. This argument is silly.

 

[HAL9000]

According to this there is a problem with things happening for no reason. Classic religious thinking...

Things happen for no reason <---- FACT. Live with it.

 

[HAL9000]

99% of atheists have zero clue on the science, let alone any of them understanding creation whatsoever. This argument is silly.

What are you basing that on? It puts me in 1% of free thinking people?!

 

[Malak]

What are you basing that on? It puts me in 1% of free thinking people?!

I don't think you understood what you quoted, because your response is nonsense in that context. Understanding science has nothing to do with free thinking, and all humans are free thinking.

 

[HAL9000]

I don't think you understood what you quoted, because your response is nonsense in that context. Understanding science has nothing to do with free thinking, and all humans are free thinking.

I didn't say that there was a correlation between being free thinking and science, what I implied was that atheists are free thinking people and your quote puts me in the 1% of them that understand science

 

[Nik]

Yes, unfortunately all humans are free thinking. That's one of the reasons so many dumbasses are still stuck with religion: they're free to willfully ignore lack of evidence, lack of logic, contradictory "scriptures" and choose to believe in something that has absolutely no basis in reality -no reason for any reasonable person to believe that their god exists, yet they believe anyway.

 

[Malak]

I didn't say that there was a correlation between being free thinking and science, what I implied was that atheists are free thinking people and your quote puts me in the 1% of them that understand science

I am not misunderstanding what you are implying. Understanding of science has nothing to do with your religious beliefs either. The point I was making is the same as I make with politics: Most people that argue about it have no actual experience or serious knowledge on the subject they are arguing about. Politics, science, and religion are the big 3 topics full of people arguing about things they know nothing about.

 

[OCGuy]

lolreligion

 

[HAL9000]

I am not misunderstanding what you are implying. Understanding of science has nothing to do with your religious beliefs either. The point I was making is the same as I make with politics: Most people that argue about it have no actual experience or serious knowledge on the subject they are arguing about. Politics, science, and religion are the big 3 topics full of people arguing about things they know nothing about.

Yes.

I got that.

What I am saying is "What are you basing the notion that 99% of Atheists know nothing about science" if that is the case then I am in the 1% of Atheists that do know about science

Sorry this is so complicated to convey.

 

[HAL9000]

Yes, unfortunately all humans are free thinking. That's one of the reasons so many dumbasses are still stuck with religion: they're free to willfully ignore lack of evidence, lack of logic, contradictory "scriptures" and choose to believe in something that has absolutely no basis in reality -no reason for any reasonable person to believe that their god exists, yet they believe anyway.

True but in that case I would argue they are not thinking freely but instead trying not to think and just accepting the crap they are being spoon fed.

 

[Nik]

Religion takes a LOT of effort to believe; of course they're thinking. It takes constant justification.

 

[HAL9000]

Religion takes a LOT of effort to believe; of course they're thinking. It takes constant justification.

Hmmm. Maybe, all I see is sheep being blindly led into belief no thought.

 

[Nebor]

Yes, unfortunately all humans are free thinking. That's one of the reasons so many dumbasses are still stuck with religion: they're free to willfully ignore lack of evidence, lack of logic, contradictory "scriptures" and choose to believe in something that has absolutely no basis in reality -no reason for any reasonable person to believe that their god exists, yet they believe anyway.

It's some comfort to know that religion, Western religion anyway, is quietly fading away. At some point the last hold-outs of Christianity will be so few that they can be disposed of in whatever method is convenient and best for society.

A world without religion would be worth fighting for.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Just a sampling of the responses in this thread should be enough to convince an objective reader that neither believers nor non-believers hold a monopoly on irritating offerings.

I think it's fair to say that the other side's position seems so nearly nonsensical that it's hard to avoid a slide into incredulous responses (regardless of the side you're on).

It might be easier all around if both sides didn't feel threatened by the other.

As an (agnostic) non-believer, it worries me when I hear believers lay claim to moral ownership of this country (as some sort of inheritence from those "Christian founding fathers"). I despair for the next generation when believers insist on supplanting evolution with creationism/intelligent design in the class rooms. I am appalled when believers use biblical passages to advance political agendas, both foreign (e.g. support of Israel to hasten the second coming) and domestic (e.g. opposition to same-sex relationships).

I really don't want to "go to hell in your handbasket"...

...but it lifts my spirits to realize that you're just as worried that we might all end up in the non-believer's handbasket instead.

 

[Moonbeam]

rudeguy: I've got pretty thick skin when it comes to myself. Flame me all you want, I've probably heard it before. But all the hate that goes on around here is just getting out of control.

M: I've told you why a million times. Folk are consumed by self hate, so consumed in fact that they devote great attention to trying to make you feel as bad about yourself as they do about themselves. Of course, the same is true for you and there's the reason the truth of what I say isn't obvious to you. You would rather rage against the hate then see you have it too.

r: And now this place is getting flooded with anti-religion posts. I mean there is normally one or two going on but now its all the time. I'm very spiritual but I also realize that not everyone shares my views. That's fine. But why insult things that are Holy to us that are spiritual? Does it somehow make you feel better about yourself? What exactly do you get out of it?

M: Well if it does in fact make them feel better, there can only be one reason, that they feel worthless and making others hurt makes them feel better. But again, this is how we all are and don't want to admit it. No cure will happen that way.

Folk are lost, they do not know what they feel. They don't know they feel like shit. And what is spirituality supposed to do, that's right, make you feel good. So all the self hating folk in the world hate anything that offers hope because they feel hopeless inside. If they were to believe, they too would suffer. They would hurt when spirituality was insulted and they can't take any pain. If they opened the door to their inner pain they are sure they would die. That's because in fact they are emotionally dead. They died a long time ago. It is the living dead who hate.

Only he who can go up on the cross, suffer there, and die, can ever be resurrected. You have to die to be reborn.

There is only love. Poor poor sleeping humanity. We have chosen being viciously cool over being alive.

r: While I do like it here, I don't like being insulted every time I log in.

M; Nobody can insult you when you realize there was never anything wrong with you.

 

[OCGuy]

Thread o' the year?

 

[bas1c]

I find both funny. Is there one about agnostics or muslims?

 

[bas1c]

 

[HAL9000]

The problem with Agnosticism (of which I used to be a member) is that just because something can't be completely disproven doesn't mean it might exist, harry potters existence can't be completely disproven, but he is fictional... You shouldn't therefore stay on the fence as to whether harry potter exists...

 

[olds]

Note to God:
If you want to prove you exist, get rid if neckbeard then we'll believe.
olds

 

[darkswordsman17]

Lulz, I know I've called you an idiot countless times, but its always funny when you try to criticize something by saying they explain it with magic because you don't understand it.

99% of atheists have zero clue on the science, let alone any of them understanding creation whatsoever. This argument is silly.

So, wait, are you trying to say you're an atheist? Because we know you have zero clue on science, as you've proven so consistently on here.

On your point though, most people of any denomination have little knowledge of science so your argument isn't even silly, its you trying to make claims that have nothing to do with it.

Lastly, and of course, people like you see atheism as being the religion of science, which it isn't at all. As you've been told time and time again, religion and science have nothing to do with each other despite people like you trying to force them to.